Our Little Fashionista

At about 6 months old Keira started exhibiting some “girl-like” tendencies.  Any piece of fabric she could get her hands on would be draped around her neck making necklaces of all sorts.  She started her fondness of shoes and hats as well. 

Now she’s 18 months old (as of a week ago!) and those fetishes are only getting stronger.  She absolutely loves shoes and enjoys trying them on when we get a new batch of hand-me-downs or break out the next size.  Her latest addition to her fashion collection is a fuzzy, pink, hoodie-vest (a hand-me-down from her cousin) that she insists on wearing anytime it catches her eye. 

But above all else is her hat.  Oh her hat.  It was a hand-me-down for Ari that he’s outgrown and, sadly, she’s about to as well.  In her quest to do everything Ari does, she started wearing this hat whenever Ari would wear his.  Those brief moments have turned into hours regardless of her brother.  Always backwards.  Always low on her brow.  Always cute.  Always the fashionista.

Chef Boy-Ari

Ari has really taken a liking to helping me in the kitchen lately. He enjoys measuring, dumping, stirring, cutting (with a butter knife) and any other element I'll let him take charge of. He puts on his red apron, pulls up a chair and gets right in the middle of everything. Cooking with a three-year-old has been a test of my patience, but the plus side is he's been eating so much better. He thinks it's so exciting to eat something he's had a part in and I'm sure it doesn't hurt that we ooo and ahhh over how yummy it is since he made it.

Here's a video of the chef in action helping my mom make blueberry muffins during our visit in December.

2009 Wrap Up

We’re slowly getting back into our routine around here and now I have some time to get up the last of the 2009 pic’s and updates.

Since we took our Denver trip early this year, we were at home for Christmas for the first time ever.  To make it extra special, it snowed Christmas Eve!  And not just a few flakes – 3 inches!  This Colorado girl sure was in heaven :)

Opening presents Christmas morning

Playing in the snow later that day

Staying toasty by the fire

The next week we made our way back up to Kansas for Christmas with the Roaches, to meet our new nephew and to celebrate our niece’s birthday.

First we went to the “jumping place” (as the kids call it)

More presents!

Our New Year’s Eve party

The kids all received KSU clothes so we had a little photo shoot

And finally, Charis’ Princess Party (more pic’s here)

Three trips in just over a month left us all exhausted.  The kids were asleep within 10 minutes of getting on the road to come home.

Another wonderful holiday season spent with family and friends.  We know 2010 will be a great year for our family!